Lee's Fried Chicken and Donuts is a Houston restaurant worthy of this list.

14

22

Spring salad at Local Foods

15

22

Mussels at Peska Seafood Culture

16

22

An assortment of pizzas at Pi Pizza.

17

22

Burratta salad with peaches at Relish Restaurant and Bar.

18

22

Lorighittas pasta at Arcodoro

19

22

Steak 48 in River Oaks District (Photo by Jenny Antill Clifton)

20

22

51Fifteen Restaurant at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria

21

22

Tony's Restaurant

22

22

Queso Asado at the Original Ninfa's on Navigation

With more than 10,000 restaurants permeating Houston’s dining scene, navigating the flavor-packed landscape is no easy feat. Cut through the fat during Super Bowl LI with our PaperCity Playbook, the definitive guide to where to dine during the biggest sporting event of the year.

From fine-dining meccas and grab-and-go stops to international haunts and craft-cocktail juggernauts, you’ll find the best Houston restaurants listed in alphabetical order here. These are the local hotspots that showcase the city’s diverse culinary DNA.

Arcodoro, 5000 Westheimer Road, arcodoro.com. The traditional Sardinian fare will transport you to the Mediterranean. This is the only restaurant in Houston offering cuisine from the storied Italian island.

Arthur Ave, 111 Studewood St., arthuravehou.com. Named for the famous street in the Bronx, Arthur Ave channels the Italian immigrant spirit via upscale digs in Houston’s Washington Corridor. Expect hearty portions of classics such as spaghetti and meatballs in red sauce, chicken parm, and pizza pies.)

Bayou & Bottle at Four Seasons Hotel Downtown, 1300 Lamar, fourseasons.com/houston. This sparkling new bourbon-centric restaurant promises to be one of the best places to meet during Super Bowl. It’s a short stroll from Discovery Green and the heart of the action.

Backstreet Café, 1103 S. Shepherd Dr., backstreetcafe.net. A quaint 1930s house is the headquarters for this New American restaurant from acclaimed chef Hugo Ortega. The home-style menu draws a packed house, especially during brunch. Al fresco dining is encouraged.

BCN Taste & Tradition, 4210 Roseland St., bcnhouston.com. A 1920s home sets the stage for gastronomic masterpieces inspired by the cutting-edge cuisine of Barcelona at this restaurant.

Brasserie 19, River Oaks Shopping Center, 1962 W. Gray St., brasserie19.com. See and be seen at this bustling French brasserie, which touts one of the city’s best wine lists.

Brasserie du Parc, 1440 Lamar Street. A walk-up crepe window is just one of the highlights. Stationed at One Park Place high-rise Downtown — less than half a mile from the George R. Brown Convention Center — this new French restaurant is right in the middle of the Super Bowl action.

The Breakfast Klub, 3711 Travis St., thebreakfastklub.com. Expect a line at this H-Town staple in Midtown, but the soul-food breakfast — chicken and waffles, catfish and grits — is worth the wait.

Caracol, 2200 Post Oak Blvd., caracol.net. Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega serves up Mexican seafood in a vibrant art-filled space just minutes from the Galleria. Secure a reservation for some of the city’s best grilled oysters.

Coltivare, 3320 White Oak Dr., coltivarehouston.com. This Italian-American restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but if you’re lucky enough to secure a table, the ever-changing menu features wood-fired pizzas and entrees crafted with vegetables from the eatery’s garden.

Conservatory, 1010 Prairie St., conservatoryhtx.com. The underground beer garden and food hall offers everything from ramen and crepes to barbecue and gyros, with 60-plus craft beers on tap. Closing time is 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Cooking Girl, 315 Fairview St., thecookinggirls.com. Can’t make it to Chinatown? Cooking Girl offers some of Houston’s most authentic Chinese food in Montrose. The Sichuan menu showcases traditional dishes, while American-Chinese selections offer more mainstream options for less adventurous diners.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Galleria, 5061 Westheimer Road, delfriscos.com. This modern steakhouse is known for its vibrant social scene. For a more casual vibe, visit sister restaurant Del Frisco’s Grille in Upper Kirby’s West Ave development.

Grotto, 1001 Avenida de las Americas; 4175 Westheimer Road, grottorestaurants.com. Stationed in the Avenida Houston development adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center — in the thick of the Super Bowl festivities — Grotto’s new Downtown location offers a modern take on its signature Italian fare.

Helen Greek Food and Wine, 2429 Rice Blvd., helengreekfoodandwine.com. Voted one of the best new restaurants in America, Helen dishes out modern Greek fare with an equally Hellenic wine list. (It’s from the same team as Arthur Ave.)

The Original Hubcap Grill, 1111 Prairie St., hubcapgrill.com. At this down-home burger joint Downtown, try the classic flat-top cheeseburger — or maybe a specialty spin, such as the Cheeto-burger.

Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer Road, hugosrestaurant.net. Celebrity Chef Hugo Ortega strikes again with his namesake restaurant, where you can indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine and some of the city’s best hand-shaken margaritas. On Sundays, come for the sprawling brunch buffet.

Kolache Shoppe, 3945 Richmond Road, kolacheshoppe.com. Kolaches may have originated in Czechoslovakia, but the pastry roll has morphed into a time-honored Texas staple. Head to the Kolache Shoppe for sweet and savory renditions.

Local Foods, 2555 Kirby Drive; 2424 Dunstan Road; 5740 San Felipe St.; 420 Main St., houstonlocalfoods.com. Local seasonal ingredients are at the forefront of Local Foods. In addition to signature sandwiches, seasonal soups and salads, the new Downtown location on Main Street features a raw seafood bar.

Lucille’s, 5512 La Branch Street, lucilleshouston.com. Global southern cuisine takes center stage in the Museum District where modern plates receive a down-home twist. Don’t leave without a taste of the bone marrow and oxtail.

Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker St., marriott.com. The brand-new Marriott Marquis is home to more than a Texas-shaped lazy river. It also houses six restaurants, most notably celebrity chef Hugo Ortega’s Oaxacan-themed Xochi, as well as the upscale sports bar Biggio’s, named for Houston Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio.

MF Sushi, 1401 Binz St., mfsushiusa.com. Modern Japanese cuisine is the star of this Museum District eatery. Indulge in sushi or a multi-course omakase dinner.

One Fifth, 1658 Westheimer Road, onefifthhouston.com. Five years, five concepts — that’s the plan for acclaimed chef Chris Shepherd’s newest restaurant. One Fifth Steak, Shepherd’s take on a steakhouse, is in full swing now.

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Blvd., ninfas.com. A Houston staple since the ’70s, The Original Ninfa’s still offers some of the best Tex-Mex in town. Fajitas prepared on a wood-fired grill are a specialty.

The Pass & Provisions, 807 Taft St., passandprovisions.com. This venue offers two restaurants in one modern setting: The Pass, an intimate fine-dining, open-kitchen experience, and Provisions, where inventive New American dishes are presented in a more casual setting.

Pondicheri, W. Ave, 2800 Kirby Dr., pondichericafe.com. Pondicheri’s casual Indian cuisine transports you to the streets of Mumbai. After your meal, head upstairs to Pondi’s Bake Lab for innovative Indian treats.

You can’t leave Texas without a taste of gumbo. Head to State Fare for some down home roux.

State of Grace, 3258 Westheimer Road, stateofgracetx.com. Flavorful Texas dishes and diverse oysters are mainstays at this Ford Fry-owned restaurant, with interiors designed by Elizabeth Ingram. The cocktail bar itself is almost as captivating as the menu.

Steak 48, River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer Road, steak48.com. Reservations are always required at this upscale River Oaks District hotspot, which offers prime steaks and seafood. Come for the food but stay for the vibrant social scene.

Taverna, River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer Road, tavernabylombardi.com. Risotto is the star at this Northern Italian restaurant. Variations range from truffles and Parmigiano to bay scallops and homemade pesto. Pizza, pasta, and other Italian classics are also on the menu.

Tiny Boxwoods, 3614 W. Alabama St., tinyboxwoods.com. Lush greenery engulfs this upscale casual cafe, where you can enjoy a meal on the patio or dine indoors. Be sure to try the famous chocolate chip cookies.

Toulouse, River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer Road, toulousecafeandbar.com. Dine in the heart of River Oaks District’s luxury ambience at this classic French bistro. An expansive outdoor patio makes for great gazing and grazing.

Triniti Restaurant, 2815 S. Shepherd Dr., trinitirestaurant.com. Indulge in chef Ryan Hildebrand’s inventive menu or meet for cocktails at the cosmopolitan Sanctuari Bar. (For a more casual vibe, head down the road to Hildebrand’s new burger joint, FM Burger.)

Uchi, 904 Westheimer Road, uchirestaurants.com. Uchi’s contemporary, Japanese menu features everything from premium sushi and sashimi to modern Japanese small plates.

Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer Road, underbellyhouston.com. Chef Chris Shepherd embodies the diverse Houston experience with a revolving American Creole menu and an emphasis on locally procured beef, seafood, and produce. The Korean braised goat and dumplings are a must — if you’re lucky enough to snag a table.